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11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    but an accurate weight is his delight.(A)
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but wisdom is with the humble.(B)
The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.(C)
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.(D)
The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
    but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright saves them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.(E)
When the wicked die, hope perishes,
    and the expectation of strength comes to nothing.(F)
The righteous are delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked come into it instead.(G)
With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.(H)
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.(I)
12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
    but an intelligent person remains silent.(J)
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(K)
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] falls,
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(L)
15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
    but there is safety in refusing to do so.
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
    but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[b]
The timid become destitute,[c]
    but the aggressive gain riches.(M)
17 Those who are kind reward themselves,
    but the cruel do themselves harm.
18 The wicked earn no real gain,
    but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.(N)
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.(O)
21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will escape.(P)
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 Some give freely yet grow all the richer;
    others withhold what is due and only suffer want.(Q)
25 A generous person will be enriched,
    and one who gives water will get water.(R)
26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(S)
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to the one who searches for it.(T)
28 Those who trust in their riches will wither,[d]
    but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.(U)
29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the wise capture souls.(V)
31 If the righteous are repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!(W)

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.(X)
The good obtain favor from the Lord,
    but those who devise evil he condemns.(Y)
No one finds security by wickedness,
    but the root of the righteous will never be moved.(Z)
A good wife is the crown of her husband,
    but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.(AA)
The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.(AB)
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous will stand.(AC)
One is commended for good sense,
    but a perverse mind is despised.
Better to be despised and have produce[e]
    than to be self-important and lack food.
10 The righteous know the needs of their animals,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.(AD)
11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
    but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.(AE)
12 The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,[f]
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.(AF)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.(AG)
15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.(AH)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(AI)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(AJ)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(AK)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.(AL)
20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
    but those who counsel peace have joy.(AM)
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.(AN)
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.(AO)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[g] broadcasts folly.(AP)
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
    but a good word cheers it up.(AQ)
26 The righteous are released from misfortune,[h]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy do not roast[i] their game,
    but the diligent obtain precious wealth.[j]
28 In the path of righteousness there is life;
    in walking its path there is no death.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 11.14 Or an army
  2. 11.16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
  3. 11.16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute
  4. 11.28 Cn: Heb fall
  5. 12.9 Cn: Heb servant
  6. 12.12 Or covet the catch of the wicked
  7. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools
  8. 12.26 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  9. 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  10. 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(C)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(D)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)

Wealth(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(H)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(L)
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.(M)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(P)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(Q)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(R)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(S)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(W)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(Y)

15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(AE)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
    but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(AI)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(AK)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(AQ) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(AR)

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(AS)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(AT)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(AU)

A wife of noble character(AV) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(AW)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(AX)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(AY)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(AZ)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(BA) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(BB)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(BC)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(BD)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(BE)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(BF)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(BG)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(BH)
    but the wise listen to advice.(BI)

16 Fools(BJ) show their annoyance at once,(BK)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(BL)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(BM)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(BN)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(BO)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(BP)

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(BQ)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(BR)
    but he delights(BS) in people who are trustworthy.(BT)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(BU)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(BV)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(BW)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(BX)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(BY)

27 The lazy do not roast[b] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(BZ)
    along that path is immortality.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
  2. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.